Tube flanger



Oct. 24, 1961 A. J. RICHARDSON 3,065,482

TUBE FLANGER FiledOct. 'r, 1959 FQ/C/JA/QLDEHDfiV LNVENTUR.

Uni ed States. Patefi 3,005,482 TUBE FLANGER Andrew J. Richardson, 227 Ave. Q, Lubbock, Tex., assignor of one-third to Wendell Coffee, Lubbock, Tex. Filed Oct. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 844,891

7 Claims. (Cl. 153--79) This invention pertains to metal working and more particularly to a tool to flange copper tubing.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool for fianging tubing 'of ductile material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple device for holding tubing during the flanging process.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, simple, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture. 4 The specific natureof the invention as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof Will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view in half sectionof a tool according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tooltaken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1. I v j FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing details of construction' taken on line 3-3 of FIG. '2. t

As may be seen in the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of this invention has a generally annular f a e This frame has an opening through opposite sides. The openings are cylindrical and co-axial; shaft 12 extends through the opening on one side and is threaded into threads of the opening on the opposite side. The threads are coarse so that there is considerable axial movement of the shaft with small rotational movement. A handle or knob for rotating the shaft is conveniently located on that end of the shaft protruding through the hole at the upper end as shown. The axis of the shaft is normal to the ring frame.

Disc 14 is mounted on the shaft for rotational movement relative to the shaft but is restrained from moving axially with respect to the shaft. This is accomplished by having a step in the shaft so that there is a shoulder on the shaft with a portion of reduced diameter under the shoulder. The disc 14 has a cylindrical bore co-axial with it which fits rather snugly on this portion of reduced diameter and against the shoulder. Therefore it may not move upward as seen in the drawing. Immediately below the disc there is an annular notch in the shaft. Snap ring 28 fits in this notch thereby preventing the disc from moving downward on the shaft. The notch is located immediately above the threads so that in the lower most position the disc will rest upon the frame and may be pressed tightly against the lower portion of the frame by the shoulder. The periphery of the disc is conic in shape. The apex of the cone, of which the outer surface is a portion, would be downward as seen in the drawing.

Ring 16 is also located within the annular frame 10. Ring 16 is coaxial with the shaft 12 and therefore with the disc 14. The ring has an inner concave conic surface which is correlative to the convex conic surface of the disc 14. As the ring fits around the disc these two surfaces are mated. The ring is mounted for quite limited axial motion. It cannot move downward because it generally rests against the bottom portion of the frame 10 and it cannot move upward because of lugs 18 on the frame located immediately above the top of the ring for that purpose. The ring is free to rotate except for lug 20 located along the upper portion of the ring projecting past the conic surface. This lug 20 mates with a correlative notch within the disc so that the ring cannot in the conic surfaces thereof. These notches are graduated sizes corresponding to the outside diameter of common copper tubing from of an inch to A of an inch, indices on the top of the ring so indicating. The notches have serrations or teeth along the surfaces thereof so that when tubing is inserted within a notch it is securely clamped in place as later described. The top of each notch has a conic surface corresponding to the angle desired to be formed in the tubing. The frame has cylindrical bore 26 through the bottom thereof. This bore is aligned to the mating conic surfaces between the disc and the ring. Thus there is provided access through the frame to the semi-circular notches at the apex side of the ring and disc. By apex side it is meant that side of the ring and disc that the conic cone would reach an apex if the conic surfaces were extended. The access is provided so that the tubing may be inserted through the bore 26 and into selected notches.

On the other side of the ring and disc from the access opening there is provided a flanging head 24. As may be seen, the head is mounted for movement toward andaway from the ring and disc. This is provided by mounting it upon a screw 22 which is threaded through a bore in the frame it) for that purpose. A suitable handle means for rotating the screw 22 is provided outside the frame 10. The head has a conic surface thereon correlative to the concave conic surface at the upper portion of each of the notches in the surfaces between the ring and disc. The frame 10 is heavier and thicker at that side through which extends the screw 22 as there is more pressure on that side in use.

In use, the screw 22 with the head 24 is withdrawn from the area of the ring and disc. The shaft 12 is loosened and the ring and disc indexed so that a notch of the desired size is above the opening 26. The tubing to be flanged is inserted into the opening 26 and within the notches protruding up to about flush with the top of the ring and disc. The shaft 12 is screwed down to that the tubing is firmly clamped within the notch. Of course owing to the nature of the conic surfaces a downward movement of the disc 14 will cause the disc to move closer to the ring along the surface. After the tubing is clamped, the screw 22 is rotated by its handle so that the fianging head 24 forms the desired flange at the end of the copper tubing. It will be noted that the pressure of the flaring head tends to push downward upon the disc and ring. This further tends to clamp the tubing if it is not already securely clamped within the notch. After the desired flange has been formed upon the tubing, the shaft 22 is rotated back moving the forming head 24 away. the shaft 12 is rotated to raise the disc 14 bringing the conic surfaces away from one and other after which the tubing with the flange on it is withdrawn.

It will be apparent that the embodiment shown is only exemplary and that various modifications can be made in construction, materials, and arrangement within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tube flanges comprising: a frame, a disc with a convex c-onic surface, a ring with a concave conic surface correlative to the conic surface of the disc, said ring co-axial with and surrounding the disc, said disc and ring being mounted on the frame, means for producing relative axial movement between the disc and ring, there being a plurality of matched notches in the conic surfaces of the ring and disc, said notches being serrated to better clamp a tube therein, means for preventing relative rotational movement between the ring and disc, there being access through the frame to said notches at the apex side of the ring and disc, and a flanging head on the other side of the ring and disc, means mounting said fianging head on the frame for movement toward and away from the disc.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the means. for producing relative axial movement between the disc and ring includes a shaft mounted on said frame, the shaft having threads at one end secured into a threaded hole of the frame, said disc mounted on the shaft for relative movement but no axial movement.

3. A Work holder for a tube fianger comprising: a frame, a disc with a convex conic surface, the disc mounted on the frame for axial movement, and a ring with a concave conic surface correlative to, the conic surface of the disc, said ring co-axial with and surrounding the disc, there being a plurality of matched notches in the conic surfaces of the ring and disc, and there being access through the frame to said notches at the apex side of the ring and disc, the frame extending around the disc and ring so that a portion of the frame intersects the axis of the disc on each side thereof.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein the notches are serrated to better clamp a tube to. be flanged therein.

5. A work holder for a tube flanger comprising: a frame, a disc with a convex conic surface mounted on the frame, a ring with a concave conic surface correlative to the conic surface of the disc, said. ring co-axial with and surrounding the disc, there being a plurality of matched notches in the conic surfaces of the ring and disc, and means for preventing rotational movement between the ring and disc While permitting axial movement there between.

6. A work holder for a: tube flanger comprising: a frame, a disc with a convex conic surface mounted on the frame, a ring with a concave conic surface correlative to the conic surface. of the disc, said ring co-axial with and surrounding the disc, there being a plurality of matched notches in the conic surfaces of the ring and disc, and a shaft mounted on said frame, the shaft having threads on one end screwed into. a threaded hole of the frame,

said disc mounted on the shaft for relative rotational movement butv no axial movement.

7. A tubefianger comprising: a frame, a disc with a convex conic surface, the disc mounted on the frame: for axial. movement, a. ring withv an concave surfacecor:- relative to the conic surface ofthe. disc, said ring co-axial with and surrounding the disc, there being a pluralityof matched notches in the. conic surfaces of the ring. and disc, a flanging head on one side of the ring. and disc and means for mounting the fianging head on the frame for movement towardrand away from the disc.

References Cited in the. file of this patent" UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,922 King Feb. 15,, I944 2,443,155v Zahutnik June 8,, 1948' 2,662,575 Wolcott Dec. 15, 1953 2,852,839 Wilson Sept. 23,1958 

